whinchat
CR

whinchat

Saxicola rubetra

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The whinchat faces severe population declines across its range due to widespread habitat loss and degradation of traditional grassland ecosystems. Agricultural intensification, including increased mowing frequency, pesticide use, and conversion of species-rich meadows to intensive farmland, has eliminated crucial breeding and foraging areas. Climate change further compounds these pressures by altering the timing of insect emergence and affecting the availability of suitable habitat.

Threat summary

Habitat

Open grasslands, hay meadows, rough pastures, and moorland edges with scattered bushes, posts, or tall vegetation for perching. Breeds in extensively managed agricultural areas with low-intensity farming practices, particularly traditional hay meadows and species-rich grasslands between 200-2000m elevation.

TERRESTRIAL· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is whinchat classified as Critically Endangered?
whinchat is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The whinchat faces severe population declines across its range due to widespread habitat loss and degradation of traditional grassland ecosystems. Agricultural intensification, including increased mowing frequency, pesticide use, and conversion of species-rich meadows to intensive farmland, has eliminated crucial breeding and foraging areas. Climate change further compounds these pressures by altering the timing of insect emergence and affecting the availability of suitable habitat.
Where does whinchat live?
whinchat occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to whinchat?
The main threats to whinchat are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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